Device for detecting a deformation of a structural component

ABSTRACT

A device  1  for detecting a deformation of a component  10,  in particular in the automotive industry, having a deformable hollow body arrangement assigned as a deformation indicator to component  10  and having at least one orifice area  3,  and at least one sensor device  4; 12  situated in the particular orifice area  3  for measuring an air flow corresponding to the deformation of hollow body arrangement  2.  In addition, the present invention relates to a method of detecting such a deformation of a component  10  and activating an appropriate safety application, the measured data being analyzed by an analyzer unit  13  after measurement of the deformation, and a suitable safety application optionally being activated if the measured data of the at least one sensor device  4; 12  indicates a deformation of hollow body arrangement  2  and thus of component  10.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for detecting a deformation of a component.

[0002] Although it is applicable to any desired components, the present invention as well as the problems on which it is based are explained here with respect to an automotive component.

[0003] To detect an accident or an impact involving a vehicle, sensors are generally installed in the vehicle. By analyzing the measurement results of these sensors, various vehicle occupant safety applications provided in the vehicle may be activated in case of need. Pressure sensors are used in a part located on the side of the vehicle, e.g., a door of the vehicle for detecting a side impact.

[0004] One disadvantage of this approach is the fact that with pressure sensors, certain types of interference make reliable detection of an accident or crash highly difficult. For example, insufficient sealing in the door structure may cause additional pressure fluctuations which have a negative effect on the measurement accuracy of pressure sensors.

[0005] Likewise, in the event of an accident, there may be severe damage to the corresponding vehicle part in which the pressure sensor is installed, and thus inaccurate measurement results may be obtained or there may even be a system failure.

[0006] Slamming of a vehicle door or a trunk lid may cause a sudden pressure increase inside the vehicle, so that a faulty signal is delivered for deployment of a vehicle occupant safety application.

[0007] In addition, the pressure sensors detect only a limited area, and it is difficult to adapt them to the prevailing geometric design of the corresponding component.

[0008] The object of the present invention thus includes in general creating a device for detecting a deformation of a component, which is easily adapted in shape to the corresponding component and is mountable independently of external interference.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The idea on which the present invention is based is that the device has a deformable hollow body arrangement having at least one orifice area, the hollow body arrangement being assigned to the vehicle component as a deformation indicator, and the device has at least one sensor device, which is situated in the particular orifice area for measuring an air flow which corresponds to the deformation of the hollow body arrangement.

[0010] Deformation of the automotive component is thus detected on the basis of the deformation of the particular deformable hollow body arrangement. Air flow occurring due to the deformation of the hollow body arrangement is measured by at least one sensor device.

[0011] The device according to the present invention having the features of claim 1 and the method according to claim 10 have the advantage over the known approach that because of the simple design, an inexpensive and nevertheless durable device is created, which is highly adaptable in shape to certain components and is mountable so that it is protected from external interference.

[0012] The subclaims contain advantageous refinements of and improvements on the device characterized in claim 1 and the method characterized in claim 10.

[0013] According to a preferred refinement, the hollow body arrangement is designed as a plastically or elastically deformable container, in particular as a plastic container. Such a container is inexpensive to manufacture and has a satisfactory lifetime.

[0014] According to another preferred refinement, the hollow body arrangement is mountable on the component by using at least one fastening device, e.g., a fastening eye, so that the at least one fastening device does not prevent deformation of the hollow body arrangement. Thus, the device may be easily mounted on and/or removed from components of different shapes.

[0015] According to another preferred refinement, the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement is situated so that it is protected from external air currents. In the automotive area, this might be implemented by providing the device and the particular orifice area in an interior panel, e.g., a door panel of a vehicle. External air flows, e.g., in closing a door, are thus kept away from the sensor device and are not detected by it. This increases the measurement accuracy of the corresponding sensor devices.

[0016] According to another preferred refinement, the component itself is designed as a deformable hollow body arrangement. For example, the interior of an automotive door may form the hollow body arrangement, and an orifice area toward the interior of the vehicle may be created. Then it is not necessary to install an additional deformable body.

[0017] According to another preferred refinement, the at least one sensor device is designed as an air flow sensor or as an air velocity sensor. Both types are suitable in principle for detecting an air flow that occurs due to deformation.

[0018] According to another preferred refinement, several sensor devices based on the same principle or different principles may be combined. The individual measured data of the sensor devices may be analyzed in one analyzer unit and compared with threshold values or signal patterns stored in a memory device. If, on analysis, the measurement data of one sensor device or all sensor devices reveal air flow values in the orifice area of the hollow body arrangement which exceed predetermined threshold values or correspond to predetermined signal patterns, then a vehicle occupant safety application may be activated. Thus, the reliability of such a system is increased with each additional sensor device.

DRAWINGS

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawing and explained in greater detail in the following description.

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a device for detecting a deformation according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 shows a device for detecting a deformation according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the sequence for activation of a vehicle occupant safety application when a deformation is detected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In the figures, the same reference numbers denote the same components or those having the same function.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a device 1 for detecting a deformation of a component.

[0025] Device 1 is composed of a deformable hollow body arrangement 2 representing any desired component 10 in a motor vehicle, for example, according to the first exemplary embodiment. This may be a two-shell vehicle door or the like.

[0026] According to the first exemplary embodiment, hollow body arrangement 2 has an orifice area 3 in which is mounted an air flow sensor or air velocity sensor 4 of a known design. Orifice area 3 is advantageously situated in such a way that it is protected from external air flows and its measured data is not influenced by external interfering factors. For example, in the present exemplary embodiment, the orifice area may be provided toward the interior of the vehicle.

[0027] With sensor 4 it is possible to detect a sudden outflow of air out of compressed container 2 as well as a certain influx of air into inflated container 2. The type of deformation or impact may be specified in greater detail on the basis of the direction of air flow.

[0028]FIG. 2 shows a device 1 for detecting a deformation according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Hollow body arrangement 2 is designed here as an elastically deformable container 2, e.g., a plastic container 2, and is mounted using fastening eyes 5 on a component 10. Fastening eyes 5 do not prevent expansion or compression of deformable container 2.

[0030] Thus, when suitably mounted on the component, the container undergoes a deformation which corresponds to that of component 10 on which it is mounted using fastening eyes 5. Inferences regarding the type of accident or impact involving the vehicle which has led to deformation of component 10, i.e., container 2, may be drawn on the basis of the air flowing in or out through orifice area 3.

[0031] On the basis of FIG. 3, the sequence for detecting deformation of a component 10 and for activating a suitable safety application 15 is described below.

[0032] The system according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 has two sensor devices 4, 12. Sensor devices 4, 12 may be based on the same sensor principle or different sensor principles; for example, sensor device 4 may be designed as an air flow sensor, and sensor device 12 may be designed as a pressure sensor.

[0033] Sensor devices 4, 12, as already explained above, detect a deformation of the component either directly (see first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1) or indirectly (see second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2).

[0034] The measured data thus compiled is transmitted to an analyzer unit 13 which is connected to sensor devices 4, 12 and analyzes the data.

[0035] A memory device 14 in which predetermined threshold values or signal patterns are stored is advantageously connected to analyzer unit 13. Analyzer unit 13 analyzes the measured data acquired and compares it with the threshold values stored in memory device 14. If the measured values exceed the predetermined threshold values or if the variation of the measured data over time resembles, is equal to, or exceeds a stored signal pattern, then a safety application 15 is activated by analyzer unit 13 on corresponding safety application 15.

[0036] The threshold values may represent a predetermined pulse, a predetermined air flow speed, a predetermined air flow difference, or the like.

[0037] The signal patterns may represent a predetermined signal characteristic over time, a predetermined characteristic of the signal magnitude, or any desired mathematical links of signal magnitude and variation over time.

[0038] The device according to the present invention also has the advantage that total deformation, e.g., rupturing of the arrangement, is virtually ruled out because of the orifice area. Thus, in the event of an accident the measurement device is additionally protected from total deformation and may supply additional measurement signals.

[0039] Furthermore, the device has a long life, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easily integrated into an existing system.

[0040] Although the present invention has been described above on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is not limited to this exemplary embodiment but instead may be modified in a variety of ways.

[0041] For example, more than two sensor devices may be combined and analyzed for an additional improvement in measurement accuracy. Depending on the field of application, it is possible to decide whether the component per se is the corresponding deformable hollow body or whether a hollow body arrangement is to be mounted on the corresponding component. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device (1) for detecting a deformation of a component (10), in particular in the automotive industry, comprising: a deformable hollow body arrangement (2) which is assigned to the component (10) as a deformation indicator and has at least one orifice area (3); and at least one sensor device (4; 12) which is situated in the particular orifice area (3) for measuring an air flow corresponding to the deformation of the hollow body arrangements (2).
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the hollow body arrangement (2) is designed as a plastically or elastically deformable container (2), in particular as a plastic container.
 3. The device as recited in one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the hollow body arrangement (2) is mountable using at least one fastening device (5), e.g., a fastening eye, on the component (10), so that the at least one fastening device (5) allows a deformation of the hollow body arrangements (2).
 4. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the orifice area (3) of the hollow body arrangement (2) is mountable so that it is protected from external air flows.
 5. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow body arrangement (2) is provided in an interior panel, e.g., in the door of a vehicle.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the component (10) is itself designed as a deformable hollow body arrangement (2).
 7. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor device (4) is designed as an air flow sensor or as an air velocity sensor.
 8. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein several sensor devices (4; 12) of the same principle or different principles are combinable.
 9. The device as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein a safety application (15) is activatable if, on analysis, the measured data of at least one sensor device (4; 12) yields air flow values in the orifice area (3) of the hollow body arrangement (2) whose magnitudes exceed predetermined threshold values or whose variation over time resembles, is equal to, or exceeds a predetermined signal pattern.
 10. A method of detecting a deformation of a component (10) and activating an appropriate safety application (15), in particular in the automotive industry, comprising the following steps: measuring a deformation of a hollow body arrangement (2), which has at least one orifice area (3) and is assigned to the component (10) as a deformation indicator using at least one sensor device (4; 12); analyzing the measured data of the at least one sensor device (4; 12) using an analyzer unit (13); and activating an appropriate safety application (15) if the measured data of at least one sensor device (4; 12) indicates a deformation of the hollow body arrangement (2) and thus of the component (10).
 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the appropriate vehicle occupant safety application (15) is activated if the measured data of the sensor device (4) yields air flow values in the orifice area (3) of the hollow body arrangement (2) whose magnitudes exceed predetermined threshold values or whose variation over time resembles, is equal to or exceeds a predetermined signal pattern.
 12. The device as recited in one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the hollow body arrangement (2) is designed as a plastically or elastically deformable container (2), in particular as a plastic container.
 13. The method as recited in one of claims 10 through 12, wherein the hollow body arrangements (2) are mounted on the component (10) by at least one fastening device (5), e.g., a fastening device (5), e.g., a fastening eye, the at least one fastening device (5) allowing a deformation of the hollow body arrangement (2).
 14. The method as recited in one of claims 10 through 13, wherein the orifice area (3) of the hollow body arrangement (2) is situated so that it is protected from external air flows.
 15. The method as recited in one of claims 10 through 14, wherein the hollow body arrangements (2) are provided in an interior panel, e.g., in a door of a vehicle.
 16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the component (10) is itself designed as a deformable hollow body arrangement (2).
 17. The method as recited in one of claims 10 through 16, wherein the at least one sensor device (4) is designed as an air flow sensor or an air velocity sensor.
 18. The method as recited in one of claims 10 through 17, wherein several sensor devices (4; 12) of the same principle or different principles are combined. 